Organometallic Nanoconjugates for Biomedical Imaging and Theranostics: A Molecular Engineering Perspective

Organometallic nanoconjugates represent a transformative class of nanoscale systems
uniquely positioned at the interfaces of chemistry, biology, and nanomedicine. This
review provides a comprehensive molecular engineering perspective on the design,
synthesis, and biomedical applications of organometallic nanoconjugates for imaging
and theranostics. These hybrid constructs, which integrate organometallic cores such as
gold, ruthenium, platinum, and iron with biocompatible ligands and targeting moieties,
offer tunable physicochemical properties, enabling precise control over biodistribution,
cellular uptake, and stimuli-responsive behaviour. The advanced engineering
approaches are examined, including ligand architecture, surface functionalization, and
bioconjugation techniques to enhance specificity and multifunctionality. The utility of
these nanoconjugates is further explored across diverse imaging modalities, such as
fluorescence, photoacoustic, MRI, CT, and PET/SPECT, emphasizing their potential for
multimodal diagnostics. On the therapeutic front, applications span photothermal
therapy, chemotherapy, gene delivery, and immune modulation, highlighting their
versatility in combating complex diseases, such as cancer and infections. A dedicated
section addresses theranostic integration, in which diagnostics and therapy are unified
within a single platform for real-time monitoring and personalized treatment. Finally,

future directions involving smart nanoconjugates, AI-guided design, and biosensing-
enabled feedback systems are discussed, underscoring the potential of organometallic

nanoconjugates in next-generation precision medicine.